Chapter 29 Mitochondrial DNA: future challenges in forensic genetics

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses future challenges in forensic genetics. Often, the nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (nDNA) obtained from evidential samples is highly degraded or cannot be recovered in sufficient quantity from forensic material. In such circumstances, the recovery and analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules can be the only option available for forensic DNA analysis. A variety of strategies can be used to analyze mtDNA variation, but polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification coupled with direct DNA sequencing is the most common approach using globally standardized procedures. The use of the mtDNA test in forensic casework began more than ten years ago and although technical improvements have been achieved during this decade, serious problems remain to be resolved. Today, the analysis of mtDNA is used by several hundred laboratories around the world working in criminal or identification casework. In the past few years, some effort has been made to validate mtDNA in forensic genetics laboratories.